USA show how far the once mighty Portugal have fallen

Portugal’s part in the Brazilian World Cup has almost certainly come to an expected end (barring a miracle that, based on previous displays, is highly unlikely).

Despite an early goal, the Portuguese were never able to take control of the match against the soccer-playing USA and only a late goal from sub Silvestre Varela avoided the immediate elimination of the team captained by Cristiano Ronaldo.

‘USA are held by Portugal’, read the headline of one British newspaper. In any other walk of like, there would be no gasps for surprised reactions. When it comes to football, though, only a selected few could have predicted that outcome.

It is perhaps the most revealing evidence of the state of affairs among the Portuguese national side – the fact that it is the United States, rather than the Portuguese, that felt most harmed by the draw.

Ronaldo himself chimed in after the match with much-needed honesty (probably better received before the tournament started), claiming he had never thought Portugal would win the World Cup and that there were better teams than the Portuguese – a candidate for understatement of the year.

‘I honestly never thought we could win the World Cup,’ said the Real Madrid striker. ‘In fact, all we have to do is to look at the qualifying matches and the difficulties we’ve had from the start. Right now there are better teams and players than our own. We’re an average team, perhaps.’

Cristiano Ronaldo stands with his hands on his hips (Picture: AP Photo)

Portugal’s limitations were all too clear for everyone to see and the United States surely prepared for the match and incessantly rammed their opponent’s left side, from where most of their clear-cut chances stemmed. Portuguese coach Paulo Bento once again found no answer to countenance that threat apart from nominally stationing one of his midfielders on the left and overstretching the rest of the sector.

As if that weren’t enough, Bento had to reshuffle most of his defence – including the goalkeeper – but stuck with a midfield trio that hasn’t worked at the highest level for ages now.

The Portuguese side’s coach remained dogmatic when it came to his options, even in the face of the 4-0 trouncing at the hands of Germany six days earlier. Only a certain cosmic conspiracy eventually forced Bento to insert Éder and the excellent William Carvalho.

On the other hand, the sheer amount of muscle woes throughout the Selecção has only served to add insult to injury and to fan the flames sparked by those who claim the side impressively botched their preparations, as players successively fell onto the ground clutching their thighs. However, there’s little hope lessons will be learnt in time, as history has repeatedly shown.